A decorative article for reflecting light from a metallized strip onto a fluorescent material

ABSTRACT

An article of decoration comprises a member having a surface which is preferably coated with a fluorescent material, and metallized strip material secured in front of the surface so that at least part of the strip material is disposed edge-on to the surface whereby light, whether sunlight or point source artificial light, is reflected from the metallized strip material and projected on to the fluorescent material which acts as a screen thereby intensifying the fluorescence in various patterns according to the focus and/or angle of incidence of the light, the fluorescence being reflected to the observer in the metallized strip material. The strip material is preferably colored on one side, the color being different from that of the fluorescent coating, and preferably extends in a regular curved pattern over said surface. The member and strip material may be disposed in a colored transparent or opaque or metallized casing.

United States Patent 1 3,640,795

Burgess Feb. 8, 1972 541 A DECORATIVE ARTICLE FOR 3,032,906 5/1962 Stein ..4o/13s 2,743,544 5/1956 Wilson 2,990,640 7/1961 Burnbaum ..161/13X Primary ExaminerPhilip Dier Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack ABSTRACT An article of decoration comprises a member having a surface which is preferably coated with a fluorescent material, and metallized strip material secured in front of the surface so that at least part of the strip'material is disposed edge-on to the surface whereby light, whether sunlight or point source artificial light, is reflected from the metallized strip material and projected on to the fluorescent material which acts as a screen thereby intensifying the fluorescence in various patterns according to the focus and/or angle of incidence of the light, the fluorescence being reflected to the observer in the metallized strip material. The strip material is preferably colored on one side, the color being different from that of the fluorescent coating, and preferably extends in a regular curved pattern over said surface. The member and strip material may be disposed in a colored transparent or opaque or metallized cas- 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures REFLECTING LIGHT FROM A METALLIZED STRIP ONTO A FLUORESCENT MATERIAL [72] Inventor: Robert Stuart Burgess, Farnham, England [73] Assigneez' Panaura Limited, London, England [57] [22] Filed: July 1, 1968 [21] Appl. No.: 741,365

[52] U.S.Cl. ..l6l/3, 40/138, 161/12, 161/18, 161/48 [51] Int. Cl. ..B44f l/00, B44f 7/00 [58] FieldoiSearch ..16l/12-13, 18, 161/33, 1, 34, 48; 40/138 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,803,905 8/1957- Garver ..161/l2 X 2,890,536 6/1959 Sly .....l61/12 X mg 3,026,608 3/1962 Holcombe ..29/416 2,577,030 12/1951 Neumann ..l61/18 X ll 0 ll l '1 i l l, l l I l 1 l 108. I 1 .1 i1 1 I 10b I i ll i 13 PAIENIEBFEB em: 3,5 ,7 5

sum 1 or 2 PATENTEUFEB 8 Ian 3. 640.795

sum 2 or 2 43 mvavw aswm A DECORATIVE ARTICLE FOR REFLECTING LIGHT FROM A METALLIZED STRIP ONTO A FLUORESCENT MATERIAL This invention relates to articles of decoration.

According to the invention there is provided'an article of decoration comprising a member having a surface coated with a fluorescent material, and a metallized strip material secured in front of the surface so that at least part of the strip material is disposed edge-on to the surface whereby to an observer the fluorescence is reflected in the metallized strip material.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the color of the strip material is different from that of the fluorescent coating.

The invention also provides an article of decoration comprising a member having a surface which has a colored pattern thereon, and a metallizedstrip material secured in front of the surface so that at least part of the strip material is disposed edge-on to .the surface whereby to an observer the pattern is reflected in the metallized strip material.

Preferably the metallized strip material is colored on at least one side thereof. In preferred arrangements the metallized strip material is made'from colored transparent plastic strip and is metallized on one side.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the strip material is secured in a position edge-on to said surface and extends in a regular pattern, for example a curved pattern, over said surface.

Some embodiments of. the invention will nowbe described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a first article of decoration includinga casing and a configured metallized strip according to the invention,

FIG. lA'is an enlarged view of the crossover. area of the configured metallized strip shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. .2 is-a cross-sectional taken view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view part of the disc FIG. '2 on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 is an elevation of another construction according'to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side view of a holderfor one or more of the .articles shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

'FIG. 5-shows a plan 'view of the holder of FIG. .4 and aconnector by which the holder can be attached to another similar holdenand 1 iFlGS. 6 and 7 respectively show an elevation and side view of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the article of decoration shown in FIGS. land 2 includes a cylindrical casing 10 which is made from a coloredtransparent plastic material and which in the present instance is molded in two annular parts 10a,:l0b, of

which part l0a has an axially projecting tongue 10c received ina corresponding recess in'the other part. The cylindrical casing'has an annular inwardly projecting lip llat each end and-has an apertured lug12 molded integrally with the part 10b. Midway along the length ofthe cylinder two paper discs 13 are disposed backto back and extend across'the fullcross section of the cylindrical casing. The outer face of each-disc has a coating 14 of colored fluorescent pigment. Standing edge-0n to the coated surface of each disc 13 is a length of silvered (metallized) strip material '15 which is formed into a regular curved pattern as shown in FIGJ'I, the material being held in position against the discs by the lips 11. In theillustrated construction the strip 15 is'made fromflexible colored transparent:plastic material, e.g., colored cellulose acetate film metallized on one side. The color of the strip is different from that of the coating 14 and'may be the same as or different fromthat of the casing 10. The strip has slots 17 at intervals along its length to enable the crossover point shown on a larger scale in FIG. 1A to be formed, each'slot extending from one edge of the strip to approximately the middle of the width of the strip, and alternate slots extending to opposite edges of the strip. In the construction shown the strip is formed into a quatrefoil formation and, once formed, tends to retain itself in-this formation. The width of the strip is, of course, fractionally less than the distance from the discs to the lip 11, and the maximum diameter of the quatrefoil formation is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the casing 10. Thus, by slightly flexing the loops of the quatrefoil formation, the said formation can be pushed past the lip ll so that the strip of the formation is disposed edge-on to the planar surface of the disc 13. The outermost portion of each loop of the formation is held in place quite securely by the lips I l. The strip may be arranged so that the silvered side of the strip is outermost, or innermost, or partly innermost and partly outermost.

The fluorescent surfaces and the reflection of the fluorescent surfaces from the plain and colored silvered surfaces of the strip 16 and the transparent colored cylindrical casing 10 combine toproduce a warm brilliantly colored effect which varies according to the position of the article relative to the observer and to the light source. The light, sunlight or point source artificial light, is reflected from the metallized strip material and projected on to the fluorescent material which acts as a screen thereby intensifying the fluorescence in various patterns according to the focus and/or angle of incidence of the light, the fluorescence being reflected to the observer in the'metallized strip material. Particularly good effects have been obtained in some cases where the width of strip'l5is approximately equal to the length of the minor axis of the loops into which the strip is formed.

The article shown is double-sided but it will be understood that the articles may be made in single-sided forms.

In other arrangements the disc or discs'l3 have colored pattems thereon instead of fluorescent pigment. Also the casing may be opaque and/or metallized to have an inner reflecting surface.

The article may be used as a decoration for a Christmas tree and for thispurpose may for example be suspended from a branch of the tree on a piece of thread. The article can also be used as part ,of a window display in stores etc. The article shows to best effect when illuminated by external lighting and it is particularly advantageous if the article and/or the source of light are moving; in this case there can be a constantly changing color effect on the article due to the changing position of the article relative to the source of light.

In another and similarly two-sided arrangement, illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 3, the cylindrical casing 20 is constructed from a strip of colored transparent plastic material the ends of which are secured together as by staples 21. A single disc 22 coated on both sides with fluorescent paint is disposed midway along the height of the cylindrical casing. Two strips 23, 24 each having a width equal to approximately half the height of the cylindrical casing 20 are slotted as in the arrangement of FIGS. I and 2 and are respectively formed into the inner and outer regular curved shapes as shown in the drawing. Each strip is made from colored transparent plastic materialwhich is metallized on one side as in the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2. The metallized side is innermost on the outer strip 24 and is outermost on the innerstrip 23. The strip is secured in its wound condition by light wire. The staples 21 which secure together the ends of the strip forming the cylindrical casing 20 extend also through one of the outer loops and hold the assembly together. The casing may be omitted or may be made noncylindrical or noncircular. It may, for example; be of scalloped or petalled form.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a holder 30 is shown which may be constructed from thin card or plastics so as to provide three limbs 31. Midway along each curved sidewall of the holder is cuta slot 32 which is capable of receiving the lug 12 of the article shown in FIGS. land 2. An aperture 33 is cut in the top wall of the holder to receive the lower edge portion of the cylindrical casing of a single-sided article similar to those shown in FIGSJ and 2' for example, the upper half of the article projecting-above the top surface of the holder. The ends of the limbs 31 are open, and by means of a connector 35 such as that shown in FIG. 5, a number of holders can be joined together. The connector comprises a pair of curved strips 36 of resilient plastic material such as polypropylene held together by a member 37 which extends round the strips and which provides two spigot portions 37a of a size to fit snugly into the open end of a limb 31 of the holder and a central part 37b which is disposed between the holders. The curved strips 36 engage the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the holder to provide a friction grip for the connector in the holder. If desired, the central part 37b may have one or more slots to receive the lugs 12 of one or more of the articles,

ln an alternative arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a piece of sheet material 40 coated with fluorescent paint and a length of colored silvered strip material 41 formed into a quatrefoil shape and standing on the coated surface of the disc are mounted within a casing 43 below an aperture 42 in the top wall of the casing. Casing 43 is made from thin card or moulded from plastic material and may be painted, for example with gold paint or may be self-colored. The article may be suspended as from hole 44 if desired.

In some arrangements a disc coated with fluorescent paint and having a quatrefoil metallized strip mounted in front of the painted surface thereof as in any of the previously described arrangements is translucent and a source of light is directed at that face of the disc on which the strip is disposed (where the article is single-sided), or at either face of the disc if the article is double-sided, the article being in either case backlighted relative to the observer.

l claim:

1. An article of decoration comprising a casing made from colored transparent plastic material, disc means mounted within the casing between the ends of the casing and having opposite surfaces thereof coated with a fluorescent material, a length of metallized strip material secured within the cylindrical casing between each surface of the disc and that end of the casing towards which that surface of the disc faces, said strip material being made from transparent colored plastics material which is metallized on one side and being disposed edge-on to said surface and extending in a regular curved pattern over said surface, and retaining means for retaining the length of strip material in position.

2. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further length of metallized strip material similar to the first said length but I made from transparent colored plastic material of a color varying from that of said first length is disposed edge-0n to each said surface of the disc and extends in a regular curved pattern over said surface.

3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fluorescent coating and the colored sides of said first and said further lengths of strip material are all of different colors.

4. An article of decoration comprising a cylindrical casing made from a transparent material, a member having a surface coated with a fluorescent material, said member being located to extend across the interior of said casing, a length of metallized strip material, and means for retaining the strip material in front of the surface, at least partof which length of strip material is disposed edge-on to the surface whereby to an observer the fluorescence is reflected in the metallized strip material, said cylindrical casing extending axially on both sides of said member, said member having its surface opposite the first coated said surface thereof coated with fluorescent material, a second length of metallized strip material disposed in a position in front of said opposite surface so that at least part of this second length of strip material is disposed edge-on to said opposite surface, whereby to an observer the fluorescence of said opposite surface is reflected in the metallized strip material, and retaining means provided for retaining the second length of strip material in such position.

5. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylindrical casing has an attachment lug on its external surface.

6. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylindrical casing is substantially rigid and wherein the retaining means for said first and secon lengths of strip material comprise respective radially inwardly projecting lips formed at opposite axial ends of the casing.

7. An article of decoration comprising a casing having an opening, means providing within the casing a surface, which surface has an uninterrupted coating of a fluorescent material, and a length of metallized strip material which is secured with respect to said surface with the widthwise dimension of the strip disposed at right angles to the plane of said surface, opposite edges of said strip being formed with slots extending half way across the width of the strip and the strip extending in a pattern of regular loops with the slots in opposite edges interengaged with each other. 

1. An article of decoration comprising a casing made from colored transparent plastic material, disc means mounted within the casing between the ends of the casing and having opposite surfaces thereof coated with a fluorescent material, a length of metallized strip material secured within the cylindrical casing between each surface of the disc and that end Of the casing towards which that surface of the disc faces, said strip material being made from transparent colored plastics material which is metallized on one side and being disposed edge-on to said surface and extending in a regular curved pattern over said surface, and retaining means for retaining the length of strip material in position.
 2. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further length of metallized strip material similar to the first said length but made from transparent colored plastic material of a color varying from that of said first length is disposed edge-on to each said surface of the disc and extends in a regular curved pattern over said surface.
 3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fluorescent coating and the colored sides of said first and said further lengths of strip material are all of different colors.
 4. An article of decoration comprising a cylindrical casing made from a transparent material, a member having a surface coated with a fluorescent material, said member being located to extend across the interior of said casing, a length of metallized strip material, and means for retaining the strip material in front of the surface, at least part of which length of strip material is disposed edge-on to the surface whereby to an observer the fluorescence is reflected in the metallized strip material, said cylindrical casing extending axially on both sides of said member, said member having its surface opposite the first coated said surface thereof coated with fluorescent material, a second length of metallized strip material disposed in a position in front of said opposite surface so that at least part of this second length of strip material is disposed edge-on to said opposite surface, whereby to an observer the fluorescence of said opposite surface is reflected in the metallized strip material, and retaining means provided for retaining the second length of strip material in such position.
 5. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylindrical casing has an attachment lug on its external surface.
 6. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylindrical casing is substantially rigid and wherein the retaining means for said first and second lengths of strip material comprise respective radially inwardly projecting lips formed at opposite axial ends of the casing.
 7. An article of decoration comprising a casing having an opening, means providing within the casing a surface, which surface has an uninterrupted coating of a fluorescent material, and a length of metallized strip material which is secured with respect to said surface with the widthwise dimension of the strip disposed at right angles to the plane of said surface, opposite edges of said strip being formed with slots extending half way across the width of the strip and the strip extending in a pattern of regular loops with the slots in opposite edges interengaged with each other. 